New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-11
WHAT PEOPLE THINK AND SAY.
SIDEWALK OBSTRUCTION.

SHOULD MERCHANTS DE ALLOWED TO DO THAT For
WHICH PEDLERs ARM PUYIsHEDf
To the Editor Of The TrrbunG
SIR In your Issue Of to-day you report the removal
by the police OF The newspaper cigar and bootback
stands in lower broadway. Every person whose
business takes him along that part Of the cys great
tborougharo will hail this action Of the authorities
with approval But these stands TO which the aten-
tion Of the police was yesteriay confined form only
small part Of the distinctions which impede travel In
Broadway, and fearing that tho really serious and In
every sense unwarrantable distinctions will still be
permitted to remain, owing to the position and In
fuence OF the offenders, ask the of your columns
TO direct public attention TO the evil.
By far the greatest nuisance In Broadway in the
way Of street obstruction hold TO be the blocking
up OF the Sidewalks by In tho dry-goods district
The large jobbing houses the greatest offenders
Past most Of these houses pedestrians have walk
Indian fe-so entirely is the sidewalk occupied with
large boxes and baics piled three and four high
forenoon / counted In front Of Of these 1obbng
houses sixty seven largo casos In fact. these firms
make the sidewalks serye the purpose Of shipping
department Many OF their cases packed, while
all OF them arc naled marked and held for shipment
on tn, footpaths Some Of the more fragrant offenders
save, venture 20 say, from $4,000 10 $4,000 yearly
by their violation Of the city ordnance. Indeed this
Is low estimate. judging from the area Of sidewalk
which they cover with their
Now, are these distractions to be longer permitted
IL was right and proper that tho smafry Of peders
should DO driven Off that their property found
struoting the highway should 10 cOnAscated But Is
there not infinitely reason why these merchant
princes should be heavily fined and have their goods
found on the street taken away j DO not however
expect to craven and corrupt authorities take
action against culprs OF such prominence OF their
own accord IL they take any measures toward the
statement OF this nuisance, It will be only In deter
ence to tho criticisms OF the public and the press
hope that your ablo Journal will insist on an Impair
tal and universal application Of the ori nances a. TO
obstruction BENZ MAcNAHoN
Nos. 27 and 30 White-sL, April 8. 1887.
HE THINKS IT 10 QUEER KIND OF REFORM
To the Edffor OF The Trf6uns
SIR: received q notification from the Civil Service
Board stating that my has been dropped from the
eligible list OF mechanical engineers. 1 employed
for twelve years in the Dock Department mechanical
engineer from March IS. 1872 till July 49, 1885 was
suspended-n no funds to carry the work.
passed the Civil Service examination February H.
1886, for mechanical engineer; employed from May
TO July "a, 1885, In the position that held for
twelve years previous suspended for the
before-no funds. Now the board informs me
that am dropped from the eligible list. and still
rstcass mechanical engineer and have been
employed for twenty five years and am holding
position In n large Institution Now, will you inform
through your valuable paper what IL this socaed Civil
Service OF New York Is II Civil Service, is 1t called
name while It means something else under a Demo
cratic Reform Government J. w. BEEBy.
Young Women's Christian Association, No. East
Fifteenth St, April 8, 1897.